WEBVTT QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION.>> MICHAEL GEIER WAS RIORANCHO'S POLICE CHIEF FOR ABOUTTHREE YEARS, BEFORE HE RETIRED.KELLER SAYS HE'S THE RIGHT GUYTO HELP TACKLE ALBUQUERQUE'SGROWING CRIME PROBLEM.INTERIM MAYOR TIM KELLER PICKEDMICHAEL GEIER TO BECOME THEALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENINTERIM POLICE CHIEF.GEIER HAS MORE THAN 43 YEARS OFPOLICE EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING 20YEARS WITH APD AND HE'S SPENTTHE PAST 3 YEARS AS RIO RANCHO'SCHIEF OF POLICE.>> THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOINGTO BRING IN A STRANGER TO APD ONDAY ONE, IT JUST WOULD NOT WORK.>> THE CO-OWNER OF DUKE MOTORSSAYS SHE'S GLAD SOMEONE WITHEXPERIENCE TO FILL THE SPOT.>> IT GIVES US COMFORT TO KNOWTHEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHINGFOR THE COMMUNITY.>> HER BUSINESS HAS BEENTARGETED SEVERAL TIMESTHROUGHOUT THE YEAR.>> WE'VE HAD TEN VEHICLESSTOLEN.WE'VE RECOVERED A FEW THROUGHOUTTHE YEAR, BUT ALL OF THEM.-- NOT ALL OF THEM.>> GEIER SERVED AS COMMANDER FORNEARLY FIVE YEARS IN APD'SCRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONSDIVISION OVERSEEING THE VIOLENT, AND JUVENILE CRIMES SECTIONS,AND SERVED AS COMMANDER FOR THESOUTHEAST AREA COMMAND.>> HE KNOWS APD WELL SO IT'S NOTGOING TO TAKE HIM LONG TO GET UPTO SPEED.>> DURING THE CONFERENCE, KELLERALSO ANNOUNCED THREE DEPUTYCHIEFS TO HELP LEAD APD.AND ALTHOUGH THE POSITIONS AREALL TEMPORARY, KELLER SAYS THETEAM HAS THEIR WORK CUT OUT FORTHEM.>> THEY'RE GONNA EVALUATE THEDEPARTMENT AND EVERY OFFICER INDEPARTMENT.THEY'RE GONNA RESTRUCTURE THAT-- GOING TO RESTRUCTURE THATDEPARTMENT.WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT AROUND.>> AND THEY'LL WORK ON HIRINGMORE OFFICERS, WHICH CAN HELPWITH RESPONSE TIMES.>> I WAITED OUTSIDE THE PARKINGLOT UNTIL 10:30 WAITING TO MAKETHE REPORT.I MEAN IT WAS A FOUR OR 5 HOURWAIT.>> GEIER WAS ONE OF A DOZENCANDIDATES KELLER INTERVIEWEDFOR THE INTERIM POSITION.KELLER SAYS HE'S WELCOME TO

Keller says Mike Geier is a victim’s rights advocate and will work to “evaluate, restructure, and turn-around” the Albuquerque Police Department. He is a former Commander in APD’s Southeast Command and worked as chief of the Rio Rancho Police Department until stepping down in February of 2017.

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Two new deputy chiefs were also chosen. Herald Medina and Rodger Banes both have history with APD. A third, Eric Garcia, is currently with APD and Keller says he will stay on board to help with the Department of Justice reform process.

A fourth Deputy Chief position will be added at a future date.

Keller will search around the country for a permanent chief. He says Geier is welcome to apply.